College Counseling Mission

Admission to college is the culmination of the Pulaski Academy experience. It is our philosophy, there is no one perfect school, but rather a sound educational match for each student. Our mission is to help each senior choose a college or university which will best meet his or her needs and abilities: academically, socially, philosophically, and economically.

The College Admissions Process

A Four-Year ProgramOne of the most important decisions that a high school student makes will be which college to attend. The college counselor, assisted by parents and teachers, helps make this decision process rewarding and exciting for the student. PA’s college counseling program is designed to work with students from their freshman through their senior years.

The program’s goal during the freshman year is to familiarize students and parents with the process that will lead toward “the right match.” During the sophomore year, the student takes the PLAN test as well as the PSAT/NMSQT for practice and attends PA’s annual College Night. During the junior year, students participate in PSAT review and testing, attend frequent day visits from college representatives, and take part in College Night; also, many juniors take the 11-day College Trip. During the senior year, the program focuses on the actual process of college selection and application.

Our experience in guiding students through the selection and admissions process can greatly increase the chances of a successful college matriculation, just as our educational program prepares them for a successful academic college career.

Counseling CenterThe Counseling Center is located in the McIntosh Arts & Sciences Center on the first floor. The center is equipped with a wide-ranging library of catalogs from colleges and universities from around the globe and extensive support materials. Expert staff members are on hand to give individualized attention to our students throughout the four-year process.

College NightEach fall, PA invites students in grades 9-12 and their parents to the annual College Night. Approximately 120 representatives from colleges and universities from around the nation are on hand to visit with students and their families about their programs.

SAT and ACT preparationIn the fall of their freshman and sophomore year, students take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) for practice in preparation for taking the test in the fall of their junior year. Sophomores also take the PLAN test, which provides practice for the ACT.

At the start of their junior year, optional daily PSAT review classes are offered on campus. The PSAT/NMSQT, which is the qualifying exam for National Merit recognition, is administered in October. The test provides students preparation for taking the SAT in the spring of the junior year and fall of the senior year.

College Visits at PAEach year, numerous day information sessions are conducted by representatives from colleges and universities from the across the country. Juniors and seniors are encouraged to attend the sessions which are of personal interest.

Junior College TripPulaski Academy’s optional 11-day College Trip is an excellent opportunity for juniors to visit a wide variety of colleges and universities on both small and large campuses in rural communities as well as large cities. By visiting with college admissions representatives and touring campuses with college students, PA juniors learn about different types of schools and other factors affecting the college decision making process. The College Trip provides a first-hand experience and more personal information than any view book, brochure, or college handbook could explain. As a result of the College Trip experience, students enter their senior year with a greater appreciation of what they are looking for in a college.